The hydrophilicity of natural rubber (NR) was improved by grafting with modified cassava starch (ST)
(NR-g-ST) by using potassium persulfate (K2S2O8) as a catalyst. The modified ST was added to NR latex
in the presence of Terric16A16 as a non-ionic surfactant at 60 ◦C for 3 h and cast film on a glass plate to
obtain NR-g-ST. The chemical structure of NR-g-ST was confirmed by FTIR. The swelling ratio of NR-gST
was investigated in water and results showed that the swelling ratio of the modified NR decreased
as function of ST. In addition, the tensile strength of the modified NR in the presence of modified ST
at 50 phr was the highest value. Also, the thermal stability modified NR-g-ST was higher than of NR/ST
blend confirmed by TGA. Finally,the NR-g-ST was used a polymer membrane for controlling urea fertilizer
and it easily degraded in soil. This product with good controlled-release and water-retention could be
especially useful in agricultural and horticultural applications